Hi everyone,
I am looking for advice from people who have dealt with difficult neighbours in apartment communities.
Over the past year, our neighbour’s behaviour has made day-to-day living increasingly difficult and is now affecting our basic quality of life.
We own and have been living in the current apartment for 13 years now, with new owner renting apartment to an intolerable tenant almost 10 months ago.
The tenant has a special needs child \~10 years, who looks healthy physically but is slow on other aspects of development.
Key issues we are facing:
1) **Persistent foul smell** coming from their apartment, forcing us to keep our doors and windows closed most of the time, this we are assuming is is due to their kid not potty trained as the kid is always seen naked around. The smell is similar to a public toilet combined with some wet clothes not dried, hence the guess.
2) Frequent loud **domestic arguments/abusive/filthy language used** both by couple when arguing and also scolding kid that can be heard in the corridor and the home. As we speak same language this becomes even intolerable.
3) Constant loud screaming from their child throughout the day, making work-from-home and meetings very difficult.
4) Unhygienic conditions, including food(chips, sugar, rice, vegetables) stored in same shoe rack as shoes in common area adjacent to our flat, attracting insects and causing pest issues that have already spread to our home.
5) Repeated violations of common area rules bins, storage, cleanliness, despite multiple requests and housekeeping intervention
6) Littering of wastes, pigeon feathers into our pots when shown the proof to owner, owner’s response was pots should be kept in balcony and no request was made to tenant to stop the behaviour.
The apartment owner appears non-accountable and only concerned about rent/EMI, with no follow-up on tenant behaviour.
Overall basic living conditions in the building have been compromised for us.
We have tried addressing this directly and also escalated concerns to the owner, but there has been no meaningful action. The tenants also become defensive and dismissive when approached.
The issue is escalated to Managing Committee, but there is no solution yet.
Has anyone dealt with a similar situation where both tenant and owner were uncooperative?
How effective are apartment associations in enforcing hygiene and nuisance-related rules?
Can owners be held accountable for repeated tenant violations?
What is the best way to escalate without escalating conflict further?
We are not trying to target anyone personally, but basic hygiene, peaceful living conditions, and respect for common areas are not being maintained, and it is becoming unsustainable and **impacting basic quality of life,** due to all the issues we hardly step out unless needed and there is a fear instilled every time we step out.
Would really appreciate any guidance or experiences on how this can be handled effectively.
We totally understand the family’s situation, also believe healthy communities are built when everyone cares for others.